Rotary drier



R. J. HIGGIN June 10, 1958 ROTARY DRIER Filed Nov. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J

R. J. HIGGIN ROTARY DRIER June 10, 1958 Filed Nov. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1958 R. J. HIGGIN 2,838,177

ROTARY DRIER Filed Nov. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jay. 4

IN VEIY TOR. I fgm mzzdjyg w R. J. HIGGIN ROTARY DRIER June 10, 1958 4 Sheets$heet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1954 H5 iv Patented June It 15558 ROTARY DRIER Raymond J. Higgin, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Jim- Ray Co., Inc., Claremont, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application November 18, 1954, Serial N0. 469,621

6 Claims. 01. 209-238) vMy invention relates to improvements in a rotary drier. In particular, it relates to a rotary drier particularly adapted to'dry grain of various types.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved rotary drier which is of sturdy construction and effectively operative.

It is another object of my invention to provide a novel and improved rotary drier which is capable of being easily moved from place-to-place.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved rotary drier having novel and improved materialadmitting means and material-discharging means which facilitates the transfer of the material to be dried into and out of the drying chamber. I

It is a further object of my invention to provide an im proved rotary drier comprising a pair of concentric perforate rotatable drums defining therebetween an annular drying chamber; in a central chamber defined by the inner drum, I provide a trough positioned to trap chaff and foreign particles which will sift from the drying chamber through the inner perforate drum, and I further provide conveyor means in the trough to remove the chaff and foreign particles out of the drier.

These and other objects and advantages will be disclosed in the course of the following specification and claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my invention, some parts being broken away;

.Fig. 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Ra Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation from the opposite end of Fig. 2 as taken along the line 3.3 of Fig. 1; i i

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is. a fragmentary view in longitudinal'vertical section takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section taken substantially along the line 6,-6 of Fig. 5. V

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have providedja substantially rectangularly-shap'ed frame 10 having'secured thereto depending bearing supports 11 which journal an axle 12. A pair of oppositely disposed ground-engaging wheels 13 are mounted von axle 12 to support frame 10 for movement from place-to-place, so that my novel and improved drier may be taken to the material to be" dried whi chin most instances is Igrain,

vehicle,- as shown in Fig. 1. A pair of'oppositely disposed brackets 16 extend upwardly from the frame 10 to mount a pair of pulleys 17. Similarly, a pair of oppo sitely disposed upwardly extending brackets 13 are secured to frame 10 adjacent its opposite end, indicated by the numeral 19, to mount a second pair of pulleys 2i Pulleys 17 and 20 aid in supporting and mounting a pair of longitudinal-extending concentric perforate drums 21 and 22, mounted on frame 10 for rotation with respect thereto.

Drum 21 is designed as the inner drum and drum 22 is designated the outer drum. Outer drum 22 is provided with external flanges 23 and 24 adjacent its opposite ends 25 and 26, respectively, which are engaged by the pulleys 17 and 29. An axially positioned supporting rod 27 is secured adjacent its end 28 to the frame 10 by a supporting member 29, Fig. 3, comprised of upwardly converging legs 30 and 31. Supporting rod 27 adjacent its opposite end 32 is mounted in a sleeve 33 having radially extending spokes 34.

Inner and outer drums, 21 and 22 respectively, define therebetween a longitudinally-extending annular drying chamber 35. Inner drum 21 defines a longitudinally-ex- I tending central chamber 36. Drums 21 and 22 are connected by opposed end walls 37 and 38, the latter comprised of outer and inner Wall portions 39 and 40 the former of which is provided with an annular flange 41 to which issecured one end of the inner drum 21. A stationary annular flange 42, secured to end wall portion 40, is disposed radially inwardly of the flange 41. The outer ends of the spokes 34 are rigidly secured to the inner surface of the flange 42. A second annular flange 43 on the end wall portion 40 overlaps one end of a casing 44 of a heater 45 which may be of any well known type such as an oil burner. An annular sleeve 46 encircles flange 43 and is fixedly secured to the frame 10 by frame structure indicated in its entirety by the numeral 47. Oil burner heater 45 is further supported and secured to the frame 10 by supporting rods 48. An electric motor 49 is supported on a mounting plate 50 secured to the casing 44 of heater 45 and is operatively connected to drive a blower 51 and the oil burner heater 45.. Motor 49 is connected to a source of power through a switch and junction box 52. Heater 45 is in communication with central chamber 36 through an annular aperture 53 in the wall portion 40 of end wall 38, and the heated gases therefrom are blown through aperture 53 into central chamber 36 by blower 51.

Outer drum 22 is provided with a ring of outwardly projecting sprocket teeth 54 adjacent flange 23 adapted to engage an endless drive chain 55. Drive chain 55 is driven by a sprocket wheel 56 which is secured to a shaft 57. Shaft 57 is mounted for rotation by bearing brackets 58 secured to one of the brackets 16, and is driven through conventional gear reduction means indicated in its entirety by the numeral 59 by an electric motor 60. The rotation of shaft 57 by motor 60 is adapted to drive the connected concentric drums 21 and 22 through drive chain 55 slowly in the direction indicated by the arrows in the drawings.

Material-admitting means, indicated by the general reference numeral 61, are positioned adjacent end 25 of outer drum 22. Drum 22 has formed therein a plurality of circumferentially-spaced intake holes 62 through which the means 61 admit the material to be dried into the drying chamber 35. Material-admitting means 61 comprise a fixed chute 63 secured by a bracket 64 to an upwardly extending arm 65, secured to the annular sleeve 46. Chute 63 extends upwardly from the periphery of outer drum 22 adjacent the path of travel of the intake holes 62 and has a discharge opening 66 in communication with intake holes 62. A shaft 67 is supported by arm and extends from a frame piece 68 through one end of a chute extension 69. A sheave 70 is mounted on shaft 67 between frame piece 68 and arm 65 to be positioned adjacent chute 63. An endless belt 71, running over the periphery of drum 22 adjacent end 25 and over the sheave 7t), is adapted to close all of the intake holes 62 except those adjacent the discharge opening 66 of the chute 63. Chute 63 is provided with an arcuate flange '72 which extends from opposite sides of the discharge opening 66 to both lines of departure of the beltil from the periphery of the outer drum 22. Belt 71' and flange '72 define valve means associated with the rotat'atile intake holes 62 to maintain all of them closed except when in proximity with the discharge opening 66. As the drums 21 and 22 are rotated, the intake holes 62 are successively opened adjacent the discharge opening 66,

.and after passing the opening 66 are maintained closed elements 73 move the material in the chamber toward material-discharging means, indicated by the general reference numeral 74, positioned adjacent end 26 of the outer drum 22. Material-discharging means 74 comprise a plurality of circumierentially-spaced passageforming members 75 which are secured to the end wall 37 adjacent the outer periphery of the drum 22. Passage-forming members 75 are in communication with the drying chamber 35 through apertures 76 and have discharge openings 77 which are external of the drying chamber 3 51and which face in the direction of rotation of the drums 21 and 22. Passage-forming members 75 rotate with drum members 21 and 22, and the position of discharge opening 77 therein permits an outlet pas sage for the material within chambers 35 only during the latter half of the downward movement of passage-forming members 75. A cylindrically-segmental chute 78 is fixed in position adjacent the path of travel of passage-forming members 75 to're ceive the material discharged from drying chamber 35 through the openings 77. As particularly shown in Fig. 3, segmental chute 78 is posit tioned adjacent the periphery of outer drum 22 in con: centric relationship therewith on an arc extending from adjacent the lowest point on the periphery of the outer drum 22 slightly in excess of 90 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drums 21 and 22. Segmental chute 78 has an issuing opening 79 adjacent its lower end 80; and a conveyor belt 81 underlies the issuing opening 79 to receive the material deposited in the chute 78 by the passage-forming members 75. Conveyor belt 81 extends upwardly from adjacent issuing opening 79 in the direction of travel of the passageforming members 75 to catch any possible spillage through openings 77 which might be deposited beyond lower end 80 of the chute 78.

Fixed in position in central chamber 36 is a longitudinally-extending arcuate battle 32 which covers approximately the upper half of the circumferential area of inner drum 21. Bafiie 82 is provided with oppositely disposed end plates 82 secured to supporting rod 72, and is adapted to direct the heated gases from heater through the lower circumferential area radially outwardly through the material in the drying chamber 35 over a circular distance of substantially 180". An intermediate portion 83 of baflle 82 extends inwardly from the periphery of inner drum 21 to be connected to the-supporting rod 27 and forms a longitudinally exten ding trough 84. Trough 84 extends the length of chamber 35 and is adapted to underlie, in fixed relation to drum 21, a portion of the path of travel of drum 2],, indicated by the numeral 85, which portion 85 lies in the first quadrant proceeding from the upper limit of drum 21 in the direction of rotation thereof. As drums 21 and 22 are rotated relatively slowly, the grain or material being dried will flow from one side portion of the chamber 35 to the other side in a relatively thin stream adjacent portion of the path of travel of drum 21, see Fig. 4. Trough 84 underlyin portion 85 of the path of travel of drum 21 will receive chaff and other small foreign particles which will sift through the perforate drum 21 from the thin stream of material passing over the opening 86 of the trough 34. Conveyor m ans 87 comprising, in the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, a screw, is positioned in the bottom of trough 84 to transfer the chaff and other foreign particles toward end wall 37. Conveyor means or screw 87 is provided with a pulley 83 at one end of the shaft 89 thereof which may be operatively connected to driving means, not shown in the drawings. An outwardly projecting annular flange 99 is secured to end wall 37 radially inwardly spaced from passageforming'members 75 to underlap one end of a fixed housing 91. Housing 91 encloses a suction fan 92 which is adapted to draw the chaff and other foreign particles transferred to end wall 37 and housing 91 by conveyor means 87 and to exhaust these particles into atmosphere. Suction fan 92 further acts to draw air from the unfilled portion of chamber 35 as shown in Fig. 4 through opening 86 into the trough 84 to aid in sifting the chafi and other small foreign particles through'the perforate drum 21 into trough 84.

End wall 37 is provided with'an aperture 93 which leads into central chamber 36 beneath baffle 82 and through which suction fan 92 acts to draw the heated gases from heater 45 through the central chamber 36 so that the heated gases are axially distributed throughout the cen tral chamber 36. Suction fan 92 is driven by a belt 94 which transmitspower from an electric motor 95 mounted on leg 30 of supporting member 29.

It is believed that the operation of my novel and improved rotary drier is clear from the foregoing detailed disclosure. Very briefly, however, heater 45 is first put in operation and the heated gases therefrom are blown through aperture 53 by blower 51 into central chamber 36. Thereafter, as the drums 21 and 22 are slowly rotated by motor 60, the material to be dried is fed through chute extension 69 into chute 63 and then through the discharge opening 66 therein and through the intake holes 62 into the drying chamber 35. Drying chamber 35 is never completely filled with material as shown in Fig. 4. Paddle-like members 73 act to axially move the material toward the discharge means 74 adjacent end wall 37. As the material within chamber 35 is rotated and axially moved by paddle-like members 73, it is dried by the heated gases from heater 45 which are directed through the lower circumferential area of inner drum 21 by baffle 82, and foreign particles are sifted from the material into the trough 84. When the material within drying chamber 35 has reached the end wall 37 it is completely or substantially dried and is removed through the passage-formingmembers 75 to bedeposited in the segmental chiite 78 and then into conveyor 81 to be removed to storage facilities. 7

My invention has been built and used and found to be a commercially practical, efficient and eliective drier, which is particularly adapted to dry grain of various types. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that my novel and improved rotary drier, as herein disclosed, may be modified by many substitutions and equivalents and that this disclosure. is intended to be illustrative only.

. Therefore, I intend to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: I 1. A rotary'drier comprising an inner rotatable perforate drum, means mounting said inner drum for rotation, angoute r perforate drum in concentric relationship with said inner drum' an'd connected to said inner drum for rotation therewith, said inner and outer drums defining therebetween a longitudinally extending annular drying chamber, opposed end wall structure connected to said drums at the opposite ends thereof for closing the ends of said drying chamber, said inner drum defining a longitudinally extending central chamber, means supplying heated gases to said central chamber, material-discharging means at one end of said drying chamber for removing material dried therein, said outer drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced intake holes formed therein, a. fixed chute extending upwardly from the periphery of said outer drum adjacent the path of travel of said intake holes and having a discharge opening in communication with said intake holes, an endless belt running over the periphery of said outer drum and over a fixed sheave positioned upwardly from the periphery of said outer drum adjacent said chute to cover the majority of said intake holes, the uncovered intake holes being adjacent said discharge opening, and arcuate flange structure secured to :said chute adjacent the discharge opening thereof, said :fiange structure overlying the path of travel of said intake holes and extending from opposite sides of the discharge opening of said chute to both lines of departure of said belt from the periphery of said outer drum.

2. A rotary drier comprising an inner perforate drum, means mounting said inner drum for rotation, an outer perforate drum in concentric relationship with said inner drum and connected thereto for rotation therewith, said inner and outer drums defining therebetween a longitudinally extending annular drying chamber, oppositely disposed end wall structures connected to said drums for closing the opposite ends of said chamber, said inner drum defining a longitudinally extending central chamber, means supplying heated gases to said central chamber, said outer drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced intake holes formed therein, a fixed chute extending upwardly from the periphery of said outer drum adjacent the path of travel of said intake holes and having a discharge opening in communication with said intake holes, an endless belt running over the periphery of said outer drum and over a fixed sheave positioned upwardly from the periphery of said outer drum adjacent said chute to cover the majority of said intake holes, the uncovered intake holes being adjacent said discharge opening, a material-discharging means at one end of said drying chamber comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced passage-forming members anchored to one end Wall structure for rotation with said drums adjacent the periphery of said outer drum, said members projecting laterally outwardly beyond said one end wall structure in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said drums, each of said members being in communication with said drying chamber through said one end wall structure and having discharge openings exterior of said drying chamber facing in the direction of rotation of said drums, a cylindrically-segmental chute fixed in position adjacent the periphery of said outer drum outwardly thereof in concentric relationship therewith on an are extending from adjacent the lowest point on the periphery of said outer drum approximately 90 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said drums and disposed adjacent the path of travel of said passage-forming members to receive the material discharged from the discharge openings thereof, said chute having an issuing opening adjacent its lower end, and a conveyor belt underlying said issuing opening to receive the material deposited in said chute from said members. p

3. A rotary drier comprising an inner rotatable perforate drum, an outer perforate drum in concentric relationship with said inner drum and connected to said inner drum for rotation therewith, means mounting said drums for rotation, said inner and outer drums defining therebetween a longitudinally-extending enclosed annular drying chamber; said inner drum defining a longitudinal- .ly-extending central chamber, means supplying heated gases, to said central chamber, a longitudinally extending arcuate bafile fixed in position in said central chamber to direct the flow of heated gases through the lower circumferential area of said inner perforate drum, said bafile forming a longitudinally-extending trough underlying an upper portion of the cylindrical area of said inner drum to receive particles which will sift from said drying chamber through said inner drum, and conveyor means positioned adjacent the bottom of said trough to remove said particles from said trough.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said trough underlies said inner drum in a fixed position adjacent a portion of the first quadrant of the path of travel of said drum from the upper limit thereof in the direction of rotation.

5. A rotary drier comprising a frame, ground-engaging wheels carried by said frame, an inner rotatable perfo-ra-te drum mounted on said frame for rotation with respect to said frame, an outer perforate drum in concentric relationship with said inner drum and connected to said inner drum for rotation therewith, said inner and outer drums defining therebetween a longitudinally-extending enclosed annular drying chamber, said inner drum defining a longitudinally-extending central chamber, a heater secured to said frame and communicating with said central chamber to supply heated gases to said central chamber, a longitudinally-extending arcuate baffie fixed in position in said central chamber to direct the flow of heated gases in said central chamber through the lower circumferential area of said inner perforate drum, said bailie forming a longitudinaily-extending trough under lying an upper portion of the cylindrical area of said inner drum in a fixed relation to said rotatable drums adjacent a portion of the first quadrant of the path of travel of said inner drum from the upper limit thereof in the direction of rotation to receive particles which will sift from said drying chamber through said inner drum, conveying means positioned adjacent the bottom of said trough to remove said particles from said trough, material-discharging means at one end of said drying chamber comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced passage-forming members carried by an end wall of said drying chamber for rotation with said drums adjacent the periphery of said outer drum, each of said members being in communication with said drying chamber and having discharge openings exterior of said drying chamber facing in the direction of rotation of said drums, and a cylindrically-segmental chute fixed in position adjacent the path of travel of said members to receive the material discharged through the openings therein, said outer drum having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced intake holes formed therein adjacent the end thereof opposite said material-discharging means, a fixed chute extending upwardly from the periphery of said outer drum adjacent the path of travel of said intake holes and having a discharge opening in communication with said intake holes, an endless belt running over the periphery of said outer drum and over a sheave positioned upwardly from the periphery of said outer drum adjacent said last-named fixed chute, and an arcuate flange secured to said lastnamed fixed chute and overlying the path of travel of said intake holes to extend from opposite sides of the discharge opening of said last-named fixed chute to both lines of departure of said belt from the periphery of said outer drum.

6. A rotary drier comprising structure including a cylindrical drum defining a longitudinally extending enclosed drying chamber, means mounting said drum for rotation, and material-discharging means at one end of said drying chamber comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced passage-forming members anchored to an end wall of said drying chamber and projecting lateral ly outwardly therefrom in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said drum, said members being anchored to the end wall of said drying chamber for rotation with said drum adjacent the outer cylindrical periphery of said drum, each of said members being in communication with said drying chamber and having discharge openings exterior to said drying chamber and facing in the direction of rotaLion of said drum, and a cylindrically segmental chute disposed adjacent the periphery of said outer drum outwardly thereof in concentric relationship therewith on an are extending from adjacent the lowest point on the periphery of said outer drum approximately 90 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said drum whereby to be disposed in position adjacent :the path of travel of said members to receive the material discharged from the discharge openings thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Beach 1 Nov. 7, Hendrickson May 6, Preston Oct. 8, Coffee Sept. 9, Pate Mar. 12, La Feuille Apr. 16, Johnson Oct. 17, Andres Nov. 22, 

